Whales are booming in Salish Sea — but not endangered orcas
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Orcas on parade. Photo: Mollie Cameron/Courtesy of Sooke Coastal Explorations and the Pacific Whale Watch Association
The Salish Sea seemed full of whales last year — just not the ones most at risk.
Why it matters: A report released this month offers one of the clearest snapshots of whale activity and human interaction, as well as the widening gap between thriving whale populations and the continued decline of southern resident orcas.
By the numbers: 50,323 wildlife reports were logged across the Salish Sea in 2025, according to the Pacific Whale Watch Association.
- Bigg's transient killer whales were spotted on more days than any other species: 342 of 365 days, per the report.
- Humpback whales were reported on 314 days.
- Minke and gray whales showed up roughly half the year.
Yes, but: Our endangered southern resident orcas were seen far less — on just 93 days — while northern residents were spotted on 111 days.
Zoom in: Crews on whale watching vessels stepped in 1,429 times last year to protect whales.
- In 913 cases, whale watch crews communicated with the captains of other boats by radio, horn blasts or warning flags to get vessels to slow, stop or move away, according to the report.
- Those efforts led to safer behavior in about 72% of cases, per the report.
- Under Washington law, boats must stay at least 1,000 yards away from endangered southern resident orcas and slow to reduce noise and disturbance near all whales.
Plus: Whale watch crews also removed nearly 500 pieces of marine debris from the sea and reported injured or entangled animals to authorities more than two dozen times.
The bottom line: Whale sightings are up — but the data underscores a split reality between the thriving populations of humpbacks and Bigg's orcas and the continued fragility of southern residents.